Five stories that have North Texas talking: Among 40 Texas newspapers, only Waxahachie’s editorial board has endorsed Trump; Arlington’s Pentatonix lands Thursday night gig with the NFL; 97 percent of Texas school districts earned a “superior” financial rating; and more.
Two hundred small businesses from across Texas published a statement Tuesday saying anti-transgender bathroom legislation would threaten the well-being of the economy and the community.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recently promised to pass the “Women’s Privacy Act,” a bill similar to North Carolina’s House Bill 2 that bans transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice, the Dallas Morning News reports.
Working w/ @KenPaxtonTX we have been able to stop Obama's bathroom policy in Texas schools & nationally. https://t.co/JGdC10FMaa
— Dan Patrick (@DanPatrick) October 20, 2016
The band of small businesses is “watching what’s unfolding in North Carolina with a growing sense of dread,” according to the statement. They argue this kind of legislation cuts off several sources of revenue for small businesses and doesn’t align with their values of welcoming everyone.
See all of the businesses — nearly 40 of them in Dallas — calling on Texas not to pass discriminatory legislation. [Equality Texas, DMN]
- Among the editorial boards of the top 40 newspapers across the state, only one — the Waxahachie Daily Light — has endorsed Trump. Several of the state's largest papers — the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio-Express News — have endorsed Clinton. Others, including the Austin American-Statesman and the San Angelo Standard-Times, have said they will not endorse in this year's presidential race. See where a sampling of Texas papers stand on the election. [Texas Tribune]
- It’s been a tense election season, so thankfully, this Texas political ad is taking a lighthearted approach. In an ad for Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, his wife, Charlyn pleads for voters to re-elect her husband, so he’ll get out of the house and relieve her of his nonstop talk of county issues. Charlyn Daugherty says her Republican husband doesn't have any hobbies and just wants to "fix things." Watch the ad below. [The Associated Press]
- Arlington’s Pentatonix will sing the opening theme song for NBC's "Thursday Night Football." The Grammy-winning a cappella group will sing the track "Weekend Go," which was inspired from the group's original song "Sing" off their 2015 self-titled album. NBC will produce nine Thursday night games that will use Pentatonix's song and air on NBC or the NFL Network, starting Nov. 3. Pentatonix won the third season of NBC's "The Sing-Off" and picked up Grammys for best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella in 2015 and 2016. [The Associated Press]
- State education officials say 97 percent of Texas school districts and charters have earned a successful financial rating. The Texas Education Agency on Monday announced the final financial accountability ratings for 2015-2016. The numbers involve more than 1,200 school districts and charters statewide. The ratings are based on annual financial reports provided to TEA from the 2015 fiscal year. All Texas school districts and charters are required to report information and financial accountability ratings to parents and taxpayers. [The Associated Press]
